Zhang Jie's "Clown & The Hero"

Who is the clown? Who is the hero? I dunno. But if I were to take an educated guess, the hero would be the little boy in blue (see video after jump), because, well, he doesn't look like a clown. And the clown would be our resident singer, Zhang Jie, because... here, take a look for yourselves:

Bowtie, check. 2:8 parted hair, check. Spectacles stolen from grandpa in Up, check. Yellow umbrella, check. Hehe, like the cappuccino he sings of, this song is the perfect pick-me-up for the dispirited soul.

In case you're wondering, the kids in this MV (scouted in NY as well) really do know how to play the instruments. In fact, Zhang Jie jests that "he'd really have to practice harder to keep his place as the lead singer and guitarist."

Song title: 小丑與英雄 (Clown & The Hero)

Composer: AJ Zhang Jie (aka Chase Chang)

Lyricist: AJ Zhang Jie

Translated Lyrics:

"If this city life is like a comfort fairytale for heroes,

then I'm a little busy clown that nobody notices."

I sat on the curb, waiting for the bus to stop, yeah

A certain uneasiness within my heart, oh

During the journey, there were many times I couldn't see clearly 

But in their eyes, I'm a clown 
Turn left at the next stop, careful not to miss it 

When I shuttle at full speed, even if everyone laughs at me
I still want to say...

Courage on my right hand, dreams on my left
Have a cup of cappuccino, come on, come on
Mama told me, "Who hasn't experienced failure?" Woo oh ooh
Ooh oh woo So what if you lose once, just start over
You're invincible, come on come on
Be your own hero for once, woo oh oh

Passersby make it a tad crowded, yeah
Turning all thoughts into a rebellious one, oh 

During the journey, there were many times I couldn't see clearly 

But in their eyes, I'm a clown 
Turn left at the next stop, careful not to miss it 

When I shuttle at full speed, even if everyone laughs at me
I still want to say...

Courage on my right hand, dreams on my left
Have a cup of cappuccino, come on, come on
Mama told me, "Who hasn't experienced failure?" Woo oh ooh
Ooh oh woo So what if you lose once, just start over
You're invincible, come on come on
Be your own hero for once, woo oh oh

Courage on my right hand, dreams on my left
Have a cup of cappuccino
Mama told me, "Who hasn't experienced failure?" Woo oh ooh
Ooh oh woo oh ooh woo oh ooh

 So what if you lose once, just start over
You're invincible, you still have to live your life
So what if you lose once, just start over
You're invincible, ooh oh woo oh ooh
Woo oh ooh

Chloe Says

This song's got sass! If I had my way, Clown & The Hero would be the OP theme song of a show that EVERYBODY LOVES and raves and is cray cray about, that's how much loving I want Zhang Jie to have. Dramagods, hear my plea? (opening because it's a happy song, emo ones are reserved for the credits - unspoken law of TWDRAMAS 101). Until then, I'm having a OP OP OP OP OPPA Gangnam-style party for two here. You're welcome to join.

TRANSLATION NOTES
Dark pink for lyrics originally in English, purple for sound effects(?).

Ex-Boyfriend: Episode 2

I know it's only the second episode, but the shipper in me is worried for this drama. Will Chun Jiao ever stop snapping at Zhi Ming? Scratch that, will I even come to like her? 

To me, it is imperative that I ship this coupling, because the 2nd lead simply isn't doing it for me (yeah, I'm disappointed too). Yes, he is shuai guy. A supportive boyfriend. Long legs. Perpetually in a suit... all the qualities which can fill a phone book, and it's called Yawn Fest. 

Ex-Boyfriend: Mayday's "Zhi Ming & Chun Jiao"

This is not a translation; just thought I'd touch on the OST for a bit, since this song is tied thematically to the show and plays a central part in the OTP's meeting: Mayday's Zhi Ming & Chun Jiao. Like I said before, Mayday was already fairly famous then, with this being the song that catapulted them to big-time fame beyond Taiwan. It was THE song to sing in KTVs (the chinese equivalent of noraebangs) and due to the simplicity in its meaning and breezy lyrics, it easily became the theme song for the 90's. So you can imagine why everyone in the show starts bursting into the song when they learn of the two leads' name. The name "Juliet" itself will not raise eyebrows, but Romeo and Juliet? Commence snerking and egging.

On the song's meaning... it's actually sung in Hokkien (a Chinese dialect), so I don't really get what is sung if not for the lyrics (i.e in Mandarin). The song is about a couple who were in love but drifted apart (though it's one-sided, for Chun Jiao loves him no more). Yeah, the irony of it is not lost on me. Foreshadowing for the teenage couple, perhaps?

The office workers singing... you guessed it. "Zhi Ming & Chun Jiao"

Though in the song it is not known why Chun Jiao does not love him anymore (Zhi Ming wonders why), I have always thought it was because he cheated on her. Why? Here's my hypothesis: the alternate (i.e English) title for Zhi Ming & Chun Jiao is "Peter & Mary," and the name Peter sounds like "cheating" when you say it Chinese. Hur hur, geddit? 

OK maybe I'm the only one lame enough to have this line of thought, but could it be that the writers were inspired by this too, and hence this drama? LOL, probably not huh. I give myself too much credit.

Anyway, I thought I'd share a not-to-be-missed live version of Zhi Ming & Chun Jiao from their Just Rock It concert in Sydney, Australia. He gives an introduction (in English!) about the song. In the lead singer's words:

Ashin: "It's just a song about uh, love. Two people, uh... a boy and a girl. They fall in love and then they... don't fall in love." 

LOL. Too adorable. See it for yourself here:

It feels like a low-key affair (though by no means low energy); Ashin interacts with his fans, making small talk. He goes about how it has been 13 years [since Mayday's debut], and jokes about "a very special item he brought all the way to Australia" (a chair LOL). Apologizing for a joke, he says "sorry" (in English), leading fans to comment his English is good. Hence his introduction of Zhi Ming and Chun Jiao in English. So cuteee. 

Ex-Boyfriend Closing Theme: Xiao Yu's "We Made A Promise"

Ah, if a song could kill, I'd be dead many times over already. The fact that this song is featured in The Wailing Breakup does not help matters. But all's good, because I'm a masochist viewer slash listener. You can croon me to death all you want, Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu's limited edition album, "The Beautiful Force"

A special thank you to the contributors of my death, the production unit of Ex-Boyfriend for recognizing a gem when they hear one. (They liked his voice, approached him for the job and voila! Xiao Yu is the sound behind Ex-Boyfriend; not only for the OP theme and ED theme, but the ALL of the BG songs/melodies you hear, sans Mayday's Zai Ming & Chun Jiao and the bombastic (not a compliment) sound effects . That wouldn't be his doing, no.)

Song Title: We Made A Promise (pinyin: Wo Men Shuo Hao Le)

Composer: Xiao Yu (formerly Song Nian Yu)

Lyricist: Cao Yu Tang 

Translated Lyrics:

I think I saw myself

Another version of me

You just asked, "What's wrong?"

Turns out that even I couldn't fight it

 Depressed...

Depressed...

Forgot where I spent the night 

Remember the secret we once shared?

And it's gone

The look of understanding you once had

Not knowing any better, we made a promise

We made a promise

Why are things different now

Remember the secret we once shared?
And it's gone 

The wish we made

Not knowing any better, we made a promise

We made a promise

Why did the feelings change

What's wrong 

I can see myself now

Another version of me

You just asked, "What is wrong?" Ooh

Busking earnestly on the streets 

I persevere

I persevere

I got lost somewhere

Remember the secret we once shared? 

And it's gone

The look of understanding you once had 

Not knowing any better, we made a promise

We made a promise

Why are things different now

Remember the secret we once shared?

And it's gone 

The wish we made

Not knowing any better, we made a promise

We made a promise 

Why did the feelings die away

What's wrong  

This song that's written for you

I can no longer sing it anymore

My heart feels empty 

I know the things we care never turn around (never turn around)

Can I be strong?

Can I be stroooong? 

Remember the time when we watched the sunset together?

(Watched the sunset, watched the sunset)

And it's gone 

The alley where we kissed

(The alley, the alley)

Not knowing any better, we made a promise 

We made a promise

Why are things different now

(Please don't go wrong)

Remember the time we thought we could fly?

And it's gone

The square where we hugged

Not knowing any better, we made a promise

We made a promise

The promise to be with you forever

What's wrong 

What is wrong 

What's wrong 

Chloe Says

Ok don't laugh at me, but when I first heard this song alone in its entirety (i.e not from the drama), the first thing on my mind was, "Oh, this is what happens to the dude in the Hey There Delilah song." Whaaat? Is it a bad thing I like my love stories/songs resolved? 

I thought I would go emo while translating this, but the song feels surprisingly light. I only die when I listen to this version, the EVILLLL drama version:

TRANSLATION NOTES

Fairly straightforward, BLUE for words sung in English, (parenthesis) to indicate echo(?) effect when sung. Also, I'm not really sure about the English line, "Please don't go wrong" at the end (it sounds like it though, tried my best listening). It's not in the given lyrics but the perfectionist in me likes to have the translations complete. 

Ex-Boyfriend: Episode 1

Ooooh. I am happy to report that I'm following a twdrama, Ex-Boyfriend (Qian Nan You), a show on which its central conflict seems to be present in almost all twdramas, ever: Do you take a leap of faith with an old flame or go for the shiny new thing?

hellochloe is moving! Wait, scratch that.

More like I found another *shiny* social media outlet (tumblr)! Up for some pink popcorn, anyone?

Although that's not to say I won't ever update this blog (it's still my baby!), but my tumblr blog is a less focused, more off-on-a-tangent kinda place. Lmao, that sounds bad. I dunno, but it suits what I can do with my time on dramaland right now. Bits and pieces of my thoughts, snerk-festivals, feely-feels kinda place.

Do drop by if you have the time! I need a shoulder to cry on (what with all the melodramas going on) and a soju buddy to drink my frustrations away with *death stare at makjangs*.

DO COME.